Pekaka, in Northern Malaysia and Southern Thailand (Kelantan, Terengganu, Pattani), refers to a jawa demam form with a proportionately large head that is bent more acutely, and protrudes more than any other jawa demam forms. Very often, it has an exaggerated 'tanjak' (the 'beak' structure that sticks out in front) and a tall garuda mungkur (the 'fin-like' thing that sticks out from the back.
The 1st picture below is an example of a pekaka (From Kampungnet. More pics in link below).
http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/modules...bum.php&page=7
The next picture (now in fourth position, the white clam shell hilt) is another cruder example of a pekaka. (sorry somehow the uploading sequence went out of whack)
The 3rd and 4th pictures (now in 2nd and 3rd position below) are examples of non-pekaka jawa demam.
The confusion arose because of quite a few references in keris books which referred to the tajong as the pekaka, presumably because they thought the term (Which meant "kingfisher"), described the tajong hilt, which looked like a bird with a long beak. But the tajong is not a bird. Notice the mouth and the fangs beneath the supposed "beak". Hence, the "beak" is but a highly elongated nose.
The tajong is a high-status keris in the old days, when a good hilt could cost the equivalent of a small plot of land. Actually, it still does today, if you can find the correct person to carve it. However, the tajong keris form is in a bit of a danger of becoming a "tourist keris", with the proliferation of poor quality hilts and sheaths turned out in large numbers by carving workers (I refuse to call them carving artists
). I would call such products TLOs (Tajong-like-objects).
The main reason being they are carved without much care and respect for the art form, with speed as the main priority. The bunga (or 'motifs') on the hilt are roughly done, and non-crispness of the bunga betrays the fact that the workers had not even bothered to sharpen their carving tools sufficiently. Also, some essential features such as the "awan larat" (the tajong 'swirl' on the makara, or the side panel immediately behind the pipit (cheeks)) are not there, exposing the lack of understanding in the hilt form.
This keris here is a tajong. The hilt is probably late 20th century, or possibly even 21st century. The blade is old, and a luk pandai saras blade is compatible with a tajong, and actually, a luk blade is rarer. A very good specimen of a luk blade tajong is attached below.
As to the quality of a tajong hilt, a decent quality hilt should look like the one in the next picture. That hilt is carved with sufficient skills, but is not of the best quality. The best tajong not only has good bunga, and individual parts like the fangs, eyes, crown, etc, but also has good form and expression when viewed as a whole. The posture has to be good, the expression should look regal/dignified/stern/fierce or in certain cases, serene. But it should never look goofy or unfocused. To that, the eyes, eye brows, eye lashes, jaws, the way the neck sticks out, and the tilt of the head play a huge part. It is not sufficient that a hilt just looks like a tajong; it has to exude an 'aura' (or feel) of beauty and power. If that is not the case, how could that keris form have been 'high-status'.
On the point of the long nose being used in combat, it is my opinion that this is just one of the many fancy things being said about the tajong. Others included explanations on why the batang (sheath stem) was so long. One account goes to say that the tajong was meant to be worn on the back like a Balinese keris, and the user may kick the bottom of the batang to bring the keris into easy reach of the wearer's hands. The other says that the the long batang is for the wearer, who would probably have owned an elephant, to use to control the elephant, like a goad. The long nose, especially if sheathed in swasa or silver, could be used in a pinch to attack somebody's eyes, I suppose, but probably just as much as the big gold/swasa ring worn on the fingers can act as knuckle-dusters. The tajong is status symbol and a work of art. The grip itself is hardly ergonomic, being overly large and ornate, and hence poorly suited for combat. As my friend, master carver and long-time student/collector of the tajong Mr Nik Rashidee would say - the tajong is not meant for fighting.
Sorry if my post sounds rather impolite, but just letting off some steam here.
And one more thing to Zartane - this post is not targeted at you or your keris. You have a good start in collecting kerises, being introduced to one of the most iconic keris forms in the keris world. Keep learning, and keep collecting, and you will find it a very meaningful and enjoyable journey.